Euphorbia Species, Pencil Cactus, Milk Bush, Pencil Euphorbia, Rubber Hedge Euphorbia
Euphorbia tirucalli
Family: | Euphorbiaceae (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Euphorbia (yoo-FOR-bee-uh) (Info) |
Species: | tirucalli (tee-roo-KAL-ee) (Info) |
Synonym: | Euphorbia geayi |
Synonym: | Euphorbia laro |
Synonym: | Euphorbia media |
Synonym: | Euphorbia rhipsaloides |
Synonym: | Euphorbia scoparia |

Category:
Trees
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Evergreen
Foliage Color:
Height:
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Spacing:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Can be grown as an annual
Suitable for growing in containers
Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Pale Yellow
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings
Allow cut surface to callous over before planting
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Millbrook, Alabama
Goodyear, Arizona
Peoria, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Queen Creek, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
August, California
Beaumont, California
Brea, California
Brentwood, California
Clayton, California
Desert Hot Springs, California
Encino, California
Hayward, California
Laguna Niguel, California
Lompoc, California
Los Angeles, California
Mission Viejo, California
Palm Springs, California
Placentia, California
Reseda, California
San Diego, California(3 reports)
Santa Rosa, California
Spring Valley, California
Tustin, California
VALLEY VILLAGE, California
Weaverville, California
Bartow, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Green Cove Springs, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida(2 reports)
Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Key Largo, Florida
Lakeland, Florida(2 reports)
Lecanto, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne Beach, Florida
Miami, Florida
Naples, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
Oakland, Florida
Port Richey, Florida
Rockledge, Florida
Sarasota, Florida(2 reports)
Satellite Beach, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Venice, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
Zephyrhills, Florida
Denham Springs, Louisiana
Kenner, Louisiana
Metairie, Louisiana
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Madison, Mississippi
Blue Springs, Missouri
Raleigh, North Carolina
Carrollton, Ohio
Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Austin, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Bryan, Texas
Burleson, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Deer Park, Texas
Edgewood, Texas
Hondo, Texas
Houston, Texas(2 reports)
Irving, Texas
La Porte, Texas
Lockhart, Texas
Montgomery, Texas
New Caney, Texas
Paris, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Salineno, Texas
Spring Branch, Texas
Woodway, Texas
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Jun 1, 2016, Lkuhlman from Placentia, CA wrote: Plant can be stunning when it diplays its full array of stem coloration (green, yellow, hot pink, red) which is influenced by its growing conditions. Extremely easy to propagate...stick a cutting in some soil in a pot of any size and ignore it. Have a number of cuttings grow 2 ft tall in 3in pots that get minimal consistent moisture. Definitely be careful around the white latex sap, it's nasty. It is a desert plant that will throw a lot of green growth when it receives regular watering. |
Neutral | On Jan 23, 2015, poeciliopsis from Phoenix, AZ wrote: Central Phoenix -- There are some large shrub/tree size Euphorbia tirucalli in central Phoenix (at least one at the Heard Museum), but my home is in a cold air drainage making it a marginal plant here. I had one that got to 6 feet before being killed by frost in 2009. A second one was killed by frost in 2013, despite cover. A E. tirucalli firesticks was also killed by frost. I gave up and replaced it with a Euphorbia xantii (Baja spurge). |
Negative | On Sep 23, 2014, RJohnson95 from Fort Myers, FL wrote: This unusual plant does contain that lovely sap that can cause major scarring. When trimming it (because in SW Fl, they get monstrous) always wear protective clothing. I have had several of these plants (most were clippings from neighbors) and in a short time they grew into giants and seemed to take over everything. |
Positive | On Oct 7, 2013, DracoVolans from Crestline, CA (Zone 8b) wrote: To 1Firestick: DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT USE THE SAP AS A 'CANCER CURE!' Whoever told you this or wherever you found it is full of beans. This is a EUPHORBIA, the latex-sap of which is well-known for being a nasty irritant/allergen for many people. It is a HAZARD, not a medicine. One person far below has even mentioned a study where it can actually ENCOURAGE cancer-growth! NOT a good idea to try it as a cancer-remedy. |
Positive | On Jun 25, 2013, 1firestick from Weaverville, CA wrote: Has anyone used the sap of this plant for skin cancer or pre skin cancer? |
Positive | On May 22, 2013, MassWarren from Desert Hot Springs, CA wrote: Palm Springs, CA |
Neutral | On Aug 28, 2012, Nefitara from Port Richey, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: I would have gave this plant a positive rating, but due to the sap I gave it a neutral. I have 2 of these plants, both in pots. From what I've seen so far is that they do have sap that burns the skin...although for me, it's not as bad as everyone else. I do trim it about every 2 months and yes!...they do grow very quickly, but with all that said, they are beautiful plants overall. I would suggest leaving them in pots, starting with a decent size pot so you don't have to re-pot so quickly. Just wear gloves and/or wash your hands with soap (very good) after handling! DO NOT touch your eyes at all, even if you think your hands are clean of sap! ouchie!! |
Negative | On Aug 6, 2012, AdamBeaumontCa from Beaumont, CA wrote: We live in a Zone 9 environment. We grow this plant in a large container which has helped keep growth under control with an occassional pruning. A word of extreme caution. Becareful during and after pruning. The sap from the cactus is extremely irriating to skin and mucous membranes. My wife trimmed a branch off last week and this morning she was rotating the pot when she caught a dripping from the oozing severed branch in her eye. After flushing with water for 30 mins and a trip to the Emergency Room, she still has extreme pain that could last up to 8 weeks according to poison control. |
Positive | On Feb 19, 2011, wimmer from Santa Rosa, CA wrote: Thank you to all the gardeners who took the time to post their experiences with this plant. I have two of them: one is the green variety and the second is the red-orange variety. I live in Santa Rosa, CA, and both plants are kept outdoors in terra cotta pots from spring through autumn. The green variety, called a pencil plant, is a fast grower and I had difficulty hauling it into the house for the winter. I decided to leave both plants out doors which was decidedly disagreeable for the pencil plant. Although it was protected from frost, the cold temperatures caused it to drop its stems. It is now a third of its summer size. The remaining trunk and stems appear healthy, so, I'm hopeful it will recover. The orange-red plant, called 'fire-sticks', did fairly well with the cold tempe... read more |
Positive | On Jan 7, 2011, tvksi from Paris, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: Back in 1981-2 I saw my first PT. It was in a corridor of the church and looked totally dried out, and no leaves. Thought it was dieing. Care taker had died and no one took over, so I did and watered it each week. Took a slip from it and it busted out with tiny leaves and grew to a really interesting speciman! My grown children thought I was a bit balmy using it for a focal point on a walkway. In time, however , it really grew on them and thanks Heaven for that, because I had to get a new start from them when mine gave it up to a freek frost. Now they are also wanting the *red Fire sticks! Love that plant. Am respectful of its toxisity but Figure if we failed to enjoy all the ones that are toxic, we'd be missing out on many enjoyments. |
Positive | On Jul 18, 2010, Suzecav from Hyde Park, NY wrote: I have had a medium sized houseplant version of this specimen for several years and use it for my Ikebana arrangements. When brushing near it, pruning or cutting stems for use, I *always* have wet paper towel for surfaces and tools, a plastic container of water for the stems (which go RIGHT in until the milky sap stops) and wear gloves when working with it. It has once dropped a drip of sap on my wood shelf; it was extremely hard to remove three minutes later. So, fast is better when dealing with getting the sap off of you, your things and your tools. Other than that, it is an amazing addition to the room in which it is housed, growing nicely and needing water about every ten days (a good soaking at that point). |
Neutral | On Jun 19, 2010, melindarella from Corpus Christi, TX wrote: I love this plant and have success growing it indoors and outdoors. I use cactus soil as my growing medium. I also had a sap incident; but I took benadryl and was fine. I do however treat this plant with kid gloves being very careful to not expose myself to the sap. It is just such an unusual plant it is worth the extra trouble. It also is extremely hardy and will tolerate high heat and direct sun which make it an easy plant for South Texas. |
Neutral | On Apr 11, 2010, nomosno from San Diego, CA (Zone 10b) wrote: This is a striking looking plant but the sap and top-heaviness issues make it less than unending fun. I had one here in San Diego that fell over three times, the last time decapitating a ponytail agave, after which I decided to get rid of it (I don't like to kill plants unless I really hate them so I replanted it in a canyon.) |
Positive | On Dec 27, 2008, Kttrost from Palm Springs, CA wrote: I inherited this plant when we moved into our house. I love the look of it. In the last year it seems to have become top heavy. Is there any way to correct this? Should I top it? It is potted and outdoors. |
Positive | On Dec 21, 2008, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: This plant is very tough for inside a house - the only problem is the sap and the fact that I notice no one metioned below - it is very hard to prune - it have a tough woody interior and the sap gums up the pruning tools. |
Negative | On Aug 27, 2008, Kalpavriksha from Sarasota, FL wrote: Get rid of these, quickly! In the book: Edible Leaves of the Tropics, 3rd ed. by Franklin W. Martin, Ruth M. Ruberte, & Laura S. Meitzner p. 85, it says, "This plant also poisons the soil by release of a carcinogenic substance taken up by edible plants." |
Neutral | On Jun 18, 2008, sandiegojames from San Diego, CA wrote: I'm generally of the "no bad plants, only bad gardeners" slant, but this is one plant that must be considered seriously before you grow it, particularly if you let it loose in the ground. I've seen enormous "trees" of it in West Hollywood, probably 25 feet tall and 40 wide. A cute little cutting can grow into a small monster before you know it--my experience. The roots grow vigorously and can knock over walls. The burning sap is also an issue. |
Positive | On May 15, 2008, rntx22 from Puyallup, WA (Zone 8b) wrote: I love these "pencil cactus". Of course, I have not run in to any of the sap issues yet. They do get heavy and need to be staked. Ours survived the freak snow on Christmas in 2005 just fine. Lost a few limbs, but it didn't stay cold for very long so the plant bounced right back. |
Neutral | On Feb 25, 2007, flmjr from Peoria, AZ wrote: I am in Peoria, Arizona. There are about twenty of these pencil cactus plants around the yard. In January we had a short cold snap with over night tempuratures in the 27 to 30 degree range. The stems have all turned white and the they are falling off of the branches. The bark is discolored in places. I am wondering if the pencil cacti will come back or are they gone. If anyone has some experience, I would appreciate sharing. |
Positive | On Aug 26, 2006, tweety5o from Tampa, FL wrote: I just aquired this plant, and while handling it I did not know of it's toxic sap. That's ok, I'll heal. It truely is beautiful. I recommend planting it in a pot for better control. I was told by it's former owner that it was thriving in sand and it can be kept inside. |
Positive | On Mar 13, 2006, sjbrower from Jacksonville Beach, FL wrote: I've had this plant for about 10 years now. We've always referred to these as "Pencil Cactus". It was given to me by a friend, and I had it in a small pot for a long time. About 2 years ago, I transplanted it to a larger pot...it seemed to like the room and really took off! It is about 5 feet tall now, and very healthy. I take the warnings about the sap very seriously and keep this plant away from where people would pass by, but enjoy the interesting shape and look of this plant. |
Positive | On Nov 1, 2005, vossner from East Texas, I have grown mine in a 15 gal pot for several years, trained as a standard. Trunk is about 1" thick. Pruning can be messy because of the sap running all over the place. Fortunately for me it has never bothered me, but reading that it's an irritant, I will be more careful in the future. |
Neutral | On Oct 31, 2005, jrbrucejr from Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b) wrote: Recently relocated to the Los Angeles area, Silver Lake neighborhood, about 5 miles NE of downtown. Our new property has several large specimens, which exhibit many of the same characteristics others have described. 2 days ago, I "pruned" a large limb, 4-5 ft, and replanted it as a new small tree, and experienced first hand the caustic nature of the sap. I knew that it was sticky, and had heard to be careful. I allowed multiple drops to remain on my skin for 3-4 hours while working in the yard and ended up with rash and blisters on each spot. I also rubbed an eye, due to dust, and fortunately only had severe burning for a couple of hours. The blisters are mostly healed today. The plant grows well, transplants easily, looks cool, but BE CAREFUL. That sap is really Bad. |
Positive | On Sep 22, 2005, BayAreaTropics from Hayward, CA wrote: Surprisingly fast grower outdoors in cooler Bay Area. Like most "desert" plants, Euphorbias enjoy more summer water than you would think, and respond with lusher growth. Update 2007 The 2007 freeze showed this plant to not be very cold tolerant. Massive damage from a week of near freezing temps. Mid twenties would certainly kill it. |
Positive | On Nov 11, 2004, KactusKathi from Goodyear, AZ (Zone 9a) wrote: I have found this plant to be a welcomed addition to my garden. Even though the sap can be harmful if you take the time to cover the wounds with loose soil you will find that the sap stops flowing in no time and thus will not touch your skin. |
Neutral | On Jul 19, 2004, WalterT from San Diego, CA (Zone 10a) wrote: This plant can cause more trouble than it is worth. What previous note-writers have said is true and shd be taken very seriously. I have 3 "trees" of this evil plant in my garden which I am gradually removing, but the darned things grow fast and I am going to have to speed up my work on them. I am leery of handling them due to last year having had skin and severe but not permanent eye trouble (intense burning lasting 5 hours despite repeated washing) caused by the sap when I first began cutting off branches. Believe me, I wld not consider growing this plant indoors - period. I wld not keep a rabid dog in my house or yard either. The idea of making a hedge using this plant sounds foolhardy to me. WalterT. |
Neutral | On Jul 18, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro, This plant can be propagated very easily by cuttings. In fact, almost any bits of it, when reaching the ground, can root and become another shrub. It also grows very fast, and almost nothing can cause harm to it. |
Positive | On Jul 17, 2004, CatskillKarma from West Kill, NY wrote: About 30 years ago, my aunt picked a piece of this up from the floor of a greenhouse at the Bronx botanical garden. Since then my aunt, my mother, and all the cousins have grown multiples as houseplants. Any little piece stuck in ordinary potting soil sprouts and gets enormous quickly, impervious to abuse. I've never seen it for sale anywhere, though. |
Positive | On Jul 15, 2004, chel97 from Joliet, IL wrote: I've owned one of these for 5 years, grown from a neighbor's cutting. Makes a great houseplant in a large terra cotta pot! |
Negative | On May 29, 2004, sparkysmom from San Diego, CA wrote: We had a huge (30- by 15-foot) tree removed from our backyard on the recommendation of a friend. We were told the white sticky sap burns your skin, and getting it in your eyes can cause temporary blindness (2-3 days). I had gotten some on my arm a few months earlier, and the area looked and felt like a bad sunburn. After several phone calls, we were only able to find one tree removal service who would remove the tree. The others declined the business due to the "burning sap" issues. |
Negative | On Aug 15, 2003, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote: Though these can make great looking specimen trees in Southern California, they are often trouble in the garden. They get huge in no time (had 1' tall plant become a 100lb+ monster in 5 years) and then they start to break and fall apart in high winds, collapsing on surrounding vegetation. They need to be pruned regularly. And THAT's no fun, either. Being a Euphorbia, they are full of that nasty, sticky sap. It gets all over you, and just brushing up against it will break or damage the delicate tissues causing seepage of that irritating substance. It gets on clothes and is very hard to get out. It gets all over your skin and is somewhat irritation ( note that there is a huge variation in how this sap affects people... many are only mildly irritated by it, like me, but some people react... read more |
Positive | On Mar 9, 2003, look from South English, IA wrote: I've had the pleasure of owning a "Pencil Tree" now for nine years. I began with a 3 1/2" cutting, and have grown eight cuttings successfully into shrubs/bushes with the following method, outside in regular yard soil. (Located in southeastern Iowa) |